Thanksgiving Day 2015 will forever burn a hole in the memory of Packers fans everywhere. On a day that began in excitement with the anticipation of the return of Brett Favre to Lambeau Field, ended in disgust with the final outcome, a 17-13 loss to the lowly Chicago Bears.
Seven years removed from his memorable run with the Green Bay Packers in which he won a Superbowl, had three consecutive AP MVP awards, and appeared in 11 Pro Bowls, Favre was welcomed home with open arms. Favre’s 16 season marriage to the Packers was not all candy and roses. His last year in a Packers uniform was the beginning of his flip-flopping on hanging up his cleats. He put the Packers in a tough situation leading them to ultimately trade him to the New York Jets on August 7, 2008. He eventually went to the Packers rival, the Minnesota Vikings. Consequently, all was forgotten in Green Bay when Aaron Rodgers, Favre’s backup QB, Berkeley graduate and 1st round pick in the 2005 draft took the reins which ultimately brought another Superbowl to Green Bay.
On July 18th of this year, Favre was inducted into the Packers Hall-Of-Fame and had his number officially retired. Yesterday, on a cold, rainy night in Green Bay the Packer unveiled his retired number on the north end zone facade.
The excitement didn’t end there. Packer legend, 81-year old Bart Starr emerged from the tunnel with his wife of 61 years for an emotional embrace with Favre. Starr who has battled numerous health issues in the last few years is a hero in Green Bay. He not only played his whole career with the Packers, he went on to coach them. The iconic QB is a bright star in the Packers storied history.
Sounds like an emotional, picture-perfect day for Packers fans. Plenty to be thankful for. Except, the day did not turn out the way Packers fans have come to expect.
What has been an up and down and injury-filled season for the Packers, even the most pessimistic fan did not expect the pathetic showing that the Packers unleashed on an estimated 28.2 million viewers. That’s right, the Packers-Bears Primetime showing broke a record for Primetime on Thanksgiving, and according to the Hollywood Reporter, was the second most watched football game in NBC history.
Taking to social media after the Packers loss to a 5-6 Bears team, Packer fans are fed up. No more excuses. To sum up the frustration; lack of passion, wide receivers that are slow and unable to get open, a predictable game plan, an abysmal offensive line and no TE. If you add on the awful play calling and a QB that appears more interested in shooting commercials than he does playing football, you get this mess.
Ok, the officiating was poor, but that is not something that should surprise us. Lately, it seems as though there still are replacement refs out there.
There is no doubt that Rodgers is one of the best QB’s of our generation, however right now he is looking more like Rex Grossman.
Up next is a Thursday night game against another bad team, the Detroit Lions, who currently sit at the bottom of the NFC North standings. Unless, something drastic changes between now and then, Packers will be looking at another loss.
Packers should look over at the 11-0 Carolina Panthers for inspiration, a team with no superstars. A team that is winning on the back of their leader, Cam Newton and a defense that won’t relinquish.
All is not right in Packernation. Who will right the ship?
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